SI VIEW THE WEEK IN TV SPORTS

Yankee Stadium is the House That Ruth Built, but the Babe didn'tactually erect it. Malvern Burroughs, however, did help buildthe Meadowlands Racetrack. The construction company he ownsinstalled the surface upon which he will drive prohibitivefavorite Malabar Man in trotting's most storied race, whichcarries a $1.2 million purse. Burroughs, 56, also owns MalabarMan, a 3-year-old colt who has won 18 of his 20 races. Anamateur, Burroughs donates the driver's share of winnings fromall his purses to the Seton Hall Seminary, from whose clergy hereceived guidance after his father died when Burroughs was 16. ABig Apple sports hero who was molded by the good fathers? 'Tisthe stuff of Ruthian legend. CBS, 3 PM

BEACH VOLLEYBALLEvian National Championships

Align in the sand. Since last summer, when Holly McPeak (right)replaced partner Nancy Reno with Lisa Arce--a friend fromMcPeak's days at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach,Calif.--they've been close to unbeatable. McPeak-Arce, who willplay before an adoring throng at California's Hermosa Beach, haswon seven of 10 WPVA tournaments this season. Despite being anundersized 5'7", McPeak, 28, was the tour's MVP in 1995 and '96.At UCLA she was handed a note by her coach, Andy Banachowski,that read, "Know your limits." Her reply: "I have no limits."ABC, 3:30 PM

PRO BASKETBALLRunning of the Bulls

Michael Jordan has never remained in the air as long as he'sabout to remain on the air. Ten NBA Finals games starring MJ andhis supporting cast of Chicago Bulls are to be telecastconsecutively over a 14-hour stretch. Relive 1991's Game 3against the Los Angeles Lakers, in which Jordan's last-secondjumper forced overtime and gave notice that Chicago would not bedenied; his playoff-record 35-point first half against thePortland Trail Blazers in 1992's Game 1; and the virus-ridden 38points in Game 5 of June's Finals against the Utah Jazz (right,Jordan firing over Bryon Russell). Is it too early to say,"Thanks for the memories"?CLASSIC SPORTS, 4 PM

Thursday 8/14

GOLFPGA Championship

This year's fraternity of majors winners boasts two guys--ErnieEls, 27, and Justin Leonard, 25--barely beyond college-keggerage and a third, Tiger Woods, 21, who would still be at Stanfordhad he not rushed the PGA Tour last August. Who among thetwentysomething set is left to win this year's final major,which concludes on Saturday and Sunday (CBS, 1:30 p.m.)? JimFuryk, 27, has eight straight top 10 finishes, among them afifth at the U.S. Open and a fourth at the British. PhilMickelson, also 27, has more Tour wins (11) than any under-30but still seeks his first major. Both worthy pledges will beamong those teeing it up at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, N.Y.TBS, Thursday and Friday, 12:05 PM

PRO FOOTBALLPanthers at Chiefs

Bono? Elvis? Does Kansas City plumb the Bay Area forquarterbacks or rock singers? The Chiefs' newest signal-calleris Elvis Grbac (right), late of the San Francisco 49ers, whoreplaces Steve Bono, who earlier was late of the 49ers. Besidesacquiring Grbac, K.C. used its first six draft picks onoffensive players in hopes of improving the AFC's second-worstpass offense and returning to the playoffs, which the Chiefsmissed last season for the first time in six years. Grbac isfamiliar with upstart Carolina: Last season, in winning the NFCWest in only their second year, the Panthers beat the Ninerstwice. Expect neither squad to reveal any secrets in thismatchup--they'll meet for real in Charlotte on Sept. 21.ESPN, 8 PM

There's a pleasing and unexpected trend in WNBA coverage atmidseason: a willingness to deal with the downside of life inthe first-year league. Last Friday, at halftime of the HoustonComets-Los Angeles Sparks game, Lifetime's Maura Driscollconducted a candid interview with Mary Murphy, deposed earlierin the week as coach and general manager of the slump-riddenSacramento Monarchs. The next day on NBC, Hannah Storm and AnnMeyers criticized the Phoenix Mercury for lack of heart duringits 78-70 loss to the New York Liberty. For providing a sense ofreality to counter the league's often Pollyannaish image, wesay: You go, girls!

Before he became the premier postseason performer of his generation, the Patriots icon was a middling college quarterback who invited skepticism, even scorn, from fans and his coaches. That was all—and that was everything